"Who Wants to Be My Partner?": Between Recognition and Frustration: We Tell You EVERYTHING!

Introduction :
On February 19, 2025, Stooly made a notable appearance on the show "Who Wants to Be My Partner?" on M6. Delphine and Lai Lau, the co-founders, presented their ambitious project: building a 2,500 m² factory in the Paris region to relocate production to France. Does that surprise you? Yes, that's normal, since it wasn't shown on TV. Yes!

While their demonstration literally brought the jury to its feet and captivated viewers, the Stooly team watched the show on M6 with slight frustration . The production chose to focus the story on Delphine's journey and her disability, thus eclipsing the main message: defending the Made in France label. And that's a real shame.

A colossal project eclipsed by a personal story

Delphine and Lai Lau are passionate entrepreneurs with an ambitious project: to relocate the manufacturing of Stooly furniture to France. Currently produced in China, this innovative, eco-friendly furniture aspires to become 100% made in France. To achieve this, the co-founders have undertaken to build a 2,500 m² factory near Disneyland Paris, a project they are financing with their own funds.

It was in this context that they participated in "Who wants to be my partner?" , asking investors for €400,000 to accelerate the construction of their factory and aim for international expansion. Unfortunately, the production chose to highlight Delphine's background and her disability, rather than highlighting the industrial and ecological stakes of their project.

Delphine confides: "I have a visible disability, yes, that's for sure, but I don't see myself as disabled. Far from it (laughs)! I can do great things, like all people with visible or invisible disabilities. I participated in this show to defend the "made in France" label, not to talk about my scars, which ultimately overshadowed the real reason for our participation. And that's it, it's really a shame."

A spectacular demonstration, but a message that was overlooked

Despite this disappointment, the Stooly team made an impression during the show . During the break, they cleared the set by removing the investors' chairs. When they returned, the judges were left standing, a show that was as daring as it was effective. To keep them waiting, the Stooly team deployed their 12-seater Arthur extendable bench in just 3 seconds , a demonstration that impressed investors and viewers alike.

" Yes, we brought the jury to their feet... literally! It was BRILLIANT! We had a great time filming the show, but watching it was a little less so, " says Delphine.

Although this sequence was a resounding success, it was not enough to refocus the debate on the main issue: the relocation of production to France and Stooly's industrial vision.

" On the day of filming, even though the investors didn't take a position, for perfectly understandable and legitimate reasons, we were still happy with the discussions we had with them. They were kind and gave us plenty of advice and constructive criticism. We noted everything, and we are currently taking every single one of their comments into consideration. But unfortunately, these informative discussions were not broadcast, " confides the Stooly team.

A legitimate frustration, but an undeniable recognition

Delphine and Lai Lau acknowledge the positive impact of their television appearance . The show allowed Stooly to reach a wide audience and generate excitement around the brand. However, they regret that their core message was overshadowed in favor of a narrative focused on disability.

"We're grateful for the exposure the show has given us. Just from the launch broadcast, we've received some interesting offers. It's still under discussion, but we'll tell you more as soon as we have news. For now, it's still confidential," Lai-Sze Lau confided .

Conclusion: Stooly continues to believe in his French dream

Despite this disappointment, Stooly remains more determined than ever to bring its factory project to fruition in France. Delphine and Lai Lau continue to pursue this colossal project alone, hoping to find partners who share their vision . To move faster, and further.

Stooly is much more than a brand of foldable cardboard furniture. It's a committed, innovative, and forward-looking company. Discover our eco-friendly creations and support a brand that's breaking the status quo and shifting the boundaries!

ps: If you want to follow Stooly's news, follow us on Instagram StoolySeats , and Stooly LinkedIn . Delphine is also very active on LinkedIn , she often speaks on various subjects, don't hesitate to follow her and support her! :)